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sarah_em's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
veecaswell's review
4.0
This was such a fun read!
Spicy in moments, emotional in moments and thoroughly relateable people, I Love You, I Hate You is a romantic treat that I found it very difficult to put down, in fact I got this read in a few hours and I regret nothing (also as a Victoria with the same nickname, sometimes it felt like an out-of-body experience).
Victoria is what some may call a tsundere, she is tough on the outside due to growing up and having to work for everything she has had whereas on the other hand we have Owen is nuanced, he knows he has privilege but he is so used to always having a backup plan that Victoria in contract could only dream of and I think they both make for empathetic characters and make you root for them throughout.
Plot-wise, it is a great story, we follow them getting so close to the truth sometimes and things happening and I was just sat there like, 'it must be now they figure it out' but oh, no, no no, this doesn't happen and you're left there with baited breath hoping for it to happen and with the incredible scenes this author writes, this author certainly know how to raise the tension in so many ways and I appreciated them all.
I really enjoyed reading it, and I would definitely read more from this author again, she balances the sweet and the spice so well, and this book certainly is proof of that.
(I received an ARC from Netgalley for honest review).
Spicy in moments, emotional in moments and thoroughly relateable people, I Love You, I Hate You is a romantic treat that I found it very difficult to put down, in fact I got this read in a few hours and I regret nothing (also as a Victoria with the same nickname, sometimes it felt like an out-of-body experience).
Victoria is what some may call a tsundere, she is tough on the outside due to growing up and having to work for everything she has had whereas on the other hand we have Owen is nuanced, he knows he has privilege but he is so used to always having a backup plan that Victoria in contract could only dream of and I think they both make for empathetic characters and make you root for them throughout.
Plot-wise, it is a great story, we follow them getting so close to the truth sometimes and things happening and I was just sat there like, 'it must be now they figure it out' but oh, no, no no, this doesn't happen and you're left there with baited breath hoping for it to happen and with the incredible scenes this author writes, this author certainly know how to raise the tension in so many ways and I appreciated them all.
I really enjoyed reading it, and I would definitely read more from this author again, she balances the sweet and the spice so well, and this book certainly is proof of that.
(I received an ARC from Netgalley for honest review).
samnreader's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I said about a month ago that for You've Got Mail, my favorite set up of all time (epistolary! Usually secret introverts sharing vulnerability! Enemies irl yes, motherfuckers, I even like the choices of miscommunication and when to communicate!), it's basically an auto 3. That's why this 3 is a little painful. Here we have a Minnesota author mentioning Minnesota things (đ) writing with a feminist bend (eh, sometimes it was a little OTT and misandrist, but I do love Owen understanding his privilege)
But that 3rd act breakup was bullshit. I extremely get "being wrong" even if you aren't for the sake of another person and moving on, but I'm critically concerned about half of this couples ability to understand compromise - even in communication. Like, Victoria apologize. You've been stomping on Owens heart ALL book that you are damn lucky that everything comes easy to him or you'd be spending your life alone. The grand gesture was a nightmare of epic proportions. It didn't work for me, and I am not convinced it would work for these people, which is why this mostly pleasant, extremely sexy, sometimes funny book that is my absolute favorite loose plotline is a 3, and just.
I'll be reading Davis again. It was fun and easy. But the end. Ugh.
But that 3rd act breakup was bullshit. I extremely get "being wrong" even if you aren't for the sake of another person and moving on, but I'm critically concerned about half of this couples ability to understand compromise - even in communication. Like, Victoria apologize. You've been stomping on Owens heart ALL book that you are damn lucky that everything comes easy to him or you'd be spending your life alone. The grand gesture was a nightmare of epic proportions. It didn't work for me, and I am not convinced it would work for these people, which is why this mostly pleasant, extremely sexy, sometimes funny book that is my absolute favorite loose plotline is a 3, and just.
I'll be reading Davis again. It was fun and easy. But the end. Ugh.
therissatron's review against another edition
4.0
This book is good but itâs not outstanding. It was enjoyable to read and I love their little relationship but it was cliche at times. I feel like the âMomentâ thing gave off episode vibes like is she going to make this choice or the other one bit the good choice always costs diamonds so they always screw up.
i_overthink_my_usernames's review against another edition
3.0
it was ok overall ig, however the cliche of the third act break up did it for me. like dude, it was so good and then they just fought for like 50 pages, soooooooooo
noraxellen's review against another edition
5.0
It is very cliché but nobody here is trying to re-invent the wheel and over all it was a lovely sappy rom-com with some spice and I love those.
wildfaeriecaps's review
5.0
This book made my heart sing. And I knew it would. Elizabeth Davis has long been a favorite of mine.
So let me start this off with a confession. Anyone who knows me well, is aware that 'contemporary' isn't my thing. Like, at all. The closest I tend to come is urban fantasy. But there are some authors (very, very few) who can pull me into a contemporary setting. Elizabeth is one of them.
Owen and Victoria are amazing. They're exceedingly human and relatable and fallible. Victoria is very close to my heart--her anxieties and fears and need to prove herself while also hiding herself. I feel that. Deeply. Her twitter friends made me feel seen in a way I've only felt in one other book (Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade). I literally laughed out loud at their banter. And not just the ladies' banter, but then boys' group chat as well. I love them all and want nothing but happiness and snuggles for each of them.
Here's what you can count on, going into any Elizabeth Davis book: you will feel things. Many things. Deeply. The relationships are perfection--that's not to say they happen easily and without trial. What I mean is, they are flawed and disastrous and heartfelt and raw. There's such tenderness and passion and LIFE. And they are written well enough that you will believe every second of it. You can't go wrong with her work. You will get a romance that makes you laugh and cry and grin like an idiot. And if you want to know, the sex is always hot and always consensual.
And on top of it all? Elizabeth tackles some pretty big things in this book. Inequality, class, poverty, white privilege, corporate corruption, politics. And she does it with courage, humor, and grace. It never felt preachy or contrived.
So. I tell you from the most honest part of my soul: go buy this book immediately. Pre-order. Borrow it from your library. It's worth it. It's more than worth it. Whether contemporary romance is your thing or not, I *highly* recommend this book.
UPDATE (re-read): Still just as excellent the second time around!
So let me start this off with a confession. Anyone who knows me well, is aware that 'contemporary' isn't my thing. Like, at all. The closest I tend to come is urban fantasy. But there are some authors (very, very few) who can pull me into a contemporary setting. Elizabeth is one of them.
Owen and Victoria are amazing. They're exceedingly human and relatable and fallible. Victoria is very close to my heart--her anxieties and fears and need to prove herself while also hiding herself. I feel that. Deeply. Her twitter friends made me feel seen in a way I've only felt in one other book (Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade). I literally laughed out loud at their banter. And not just the ladies' banter, but then boys' group chat as well. I love them all and want nothing but happiness and snuggles for each of them.
Here's what you can count on, going into any Elizabeth Davis book: you will feel things. Many things. Deeply. The relationships are perfection--that's not to say they happen easily and without trial. What I mean is, they are flawed and disastrous and heartfelt and raw. There's such tenderness and passion and LIFE. And they are written well enough that you will believe every second of it. You can't go wrong with her work. You will get a romance that makes you laugh and cry and grin like an idiot. And if you want to know, the sex is always hot and always consensual.
And on top of it all? Elizabeth tackles some pretty big things in this book. Inequality, class, poverty, white privilege, corporate corruption, politics. And she does it with courage, humor, and grace. It never felt preachy or contrived.
So. I tell you from the most honest part of my soul: go buy this book immediately. Pre-order. Borrow it from your library. It's worth it. It's more than worth it. Whether contemporary romance is your thing or not, I *highly* recommend this book.
UPDATE (re-read): Still just as excellent the second time around!
macyeshea_'s review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I didnât expect to love this but I really fucking did
tessanne's review against another edition
4.0
Great debut! I thought the book started okay but got much stronger as it went. I adored the friend groups of both MCs. And the parental relationships were really well done.
I thought starting the book with sex really detracted from what should have been amazing chemistryâwe didnât get the build up of tension these two deserved (and us too!). Also, the beginning was way too much telling and not enough showing, so that felt like a slow start to me. There were other parts like this as well, so maybe some pacing issues.
But overall a solid 3.75 stars, rounded to 4, obviously.
I thought starting the book with sex really detracted from what should have been amazing chemistryâwe didnât get the build up of tension these two deserved (and us too!). Also, the beginning was way too much telling and not enough showing, so that felt like a slow start to me. There were other parts like this as well, so maybe some pacing issues.
But overall a solid 3.75 stars, rounded to 4, obviously.